Australian star gives huge praise to James Roby but jokes “he’s almost a grandpa”

If there was any doubt about James Roby being one of the greatest of all time, it was well and truly eradicated on Saturday as he captained his side to a win over Penrith Panthers down under to see St Helens crowned Champions of the World.

He was sensational too in the middle of the park making nearly 50 tackles and only missing two.

Speaking to ABC Sport after the game, Curtis Sironen described his skipper as a “grandpa” but also “like a god” as he explained that he didn’t know who good he was until he came over to England and saw they worship him “like nothing” he has seen in Australia.

He said of the win:

“We knew it was going to be a massive jump up in class but we’re the sort of club that it doesn’t matter who we play, we turn up and we play our own style and just rip in and I think the Australian rugby league world will see what St Helens is about now.

“That’s what we were panicking about, the hydration and things like that. I think the day we left it was minus two or something and then we were expecting to play in 37 degrees heat. But once you’re out there and you’re playing footy you just forget about all the elements and rip and do a job for your mate.”

Speaking of his mates, he then focused on Roby:

“He’s unbelievable, he’s something else mate. You sort of just don’t realize when you’re over here, he was one of the players I’d obviously heard about, but you get over there and see the style of person he is. He’s like a God over there at St Helens.

“They worship him like nothing over here but I mean he’s such a good player, he’s nearly a grandpa and he’s still going good against the Panthers who are the best NRL side.”